What to expect in 2026
Whether you're a devoted cask aficionado or not, Charlbury Beer Festival has something to delight every palate. We're busy curating another outstanding lineup — and it's going to be a good one.
- 60 Cask Ales From breweries near and far
- 20+ Craft Beers Keg beers, bold and experimental
- 🍎 Ciders & Perries Still, sparkling, dry to sweet
- + Wine, Gin & More Pimm's, bubbles, and beyond
The full 2026 list will be published closer to the festival. In the meantime, scroll down to see exactly what we served in 2025 — a taste of what's to come.
2025 — Last Year's Festival
A glimpse of the 2025 lineup — great quality, broad range, and something for everyone. Expect more of the same (and then some) in 2026.
Ales
| Brewery | Beer | ABV | Style | Tasting Notes | Sponsor |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 52 Degrees | Backyard Blonde | 4.1% | Pale | Blonde Ale. Citrus and Pine Aromas with a Dry, Crisp, Hoppy Taste. Refreshing and moreish. | The villagers of Ettington |
| Battle | Arrowhead | 4.9% | Pale | A fresh and fruity session pale ale bursting with citrus hops. | Charlbury Community Workshop |
| Bewdley | Sunshine | 3.8% | Pale | A very pale beer with sweetness, fresh, fruity, & citrus of the single hop Citra. | Finders Keepers |
| Brass Castle | Bad Kitty | 5.5% | Porter | A chewy and robust chocolate and vanilla porter, rich and decadent. | |
| Brew 61 | Hop On | 4.5% | Gold | A yellow gold English pale ale with a fresh and zesty aroma; a big hoppy flavour and thirst-quenching bitterness. | Claire and Phoebe |
| Brewsters | Rutterkin | 5.0% | Amber | A zesty hop flavour from Mount Hood hops combine with a touch of malt sweetness to give a rich full bodied beer. | The Lewis-Whittington Family |
| Broughton | Merlin's Scottish Ale | 4.2% | Amber | Clean tasting, refreshing malt flavour overlaid with a strong hop character. | The Hulme Family |
| Buxton | Cream of the Crop | 3.4% | Pale | Hazy oatshake pale ale with citrus, berry, melon and pear flavours and a creamy mouthfeel. | Charlbury Town Football & Sports Club |
| Cairngorm | Lochan | 3.4% | Pale | A crisp & refreshing session pale ale, with hints of citrus & pine with a subtle malt finish. | Chaston Commercial |
| Castle Rock | Nothing but Flowers | 4.2% | Pale | Bright and golden with a vibrant mix of citrus, tropical fruits, and resinous pine notes. | Cornbury House Horse Trials |
| Charnwood | Foundry | 4.2% | Amber | Crystal malts cast a fabulous red hue in this traditional English bitter. | T McInerney, Notary Public |
| Church Hanbrewery | Alectric Choc | 5.2% | Dark | Chocolate porter with 100% cocoa added for a smooth texture and a natural chocolate taste. Cloudy, velvety, and smooth. | The Theatre Chipping Norton |
| Church Hanbrewery | NEIPA | 6.5% | Pale | New England IPA packed with American hops. Naturally cloudy, smooth floral and citrus aroma and flavour - grapefruit, citrus, peach, melon, lime. | CN Glass Ltd |
| Craftsman | Raggy | 4.0% | Pale | A citrus beer, with notes of grapefruit, lime and tropical fruits. | Bronsens Accountants Ltd |
| Craftsman | Scooby Dooby Doo | 4.0% | Gold | Pale ale with notes of pine, spice and tangerine. | Chaston Commercial |
| Fat Cat | Incredible Pale Ale | 5.2% | Pale | Big hit of hoppiness with lemon and peach fruitiness; maltiness soon disappears under a level sustained bitterness. | Stone Cottage |
| Froth Blowers | Piffle Snonker | 3.8% | Pale | Hoppy pale ale. A free half pint for the first person to tell us what a piffle snonker is! | KMS Litho |
| Grasshopper | Devil's Horse | 4.3% | Stout | Dry Irish stout; rich coffee, chocolate and toffee flavours with a balanced spicy bitterness. | Noble Dynamic |
| Green Duck | Overlord | 4.5% | Gold | A bright and aromatic pale ale featuring floral and herbal notes from Loral hops; citrus and tropical fruit. | Midcounties Co-op |
| Harviestoun | Schiehallion | 4.8% | Lager | The original real lager - fresh crispness and a lingering grapefruit finish. | Charlbury Cricket Club |
| Hobson's | Town Crier | 4.5% | Gold | A crisp, golden ale with a delightful hint of sweetness balanced with a subtle dry finish. | Matthew Bullock Architect |
| Hook Norton/Attic | Wanderer | 4.2% | Pale | A collaboration between Hook Norton and Birmingham-based Attic: uses an experimental hop. | Stewart Stonehewer 30,000 Miles! |
| Hook Norton | Haymaker | 5.0% | Pale | Strong premium pale ale packed full of the quintessential British hop, Goldings, that delivers a smooth ale with a delicate and light fruit taste. | CN Glass Ltd |
| Hop Back | Citra | 4.0% | Gold | Packed with American Citra and English Pioneer hops, grapefruit and lemon taste, crisp, dry and bitter. | Cotswold Camping |
| Hop Union | Bees Knees | 4.2% | Gold | Malty aroma and background flavour, with hop bitterness and subtle hints of apple blossom and sweet honey. | Cornbury Park |
| Langton | Thomas Lift | 4.4% | Amber | Deep chestnut ale; sweetness on the palate offset by pine and citrus. The Thomas Lift hauled boats up the inclined plane at Foxton Locks. | Howden |
| Lees | Bitter | 4.0% | Amber | First brewed in 1828, amber, malty with spicy hop from English Goldings. A traditional Best Bitter from Manchester's oldest brewery. | Portishead Gas (Clive & Ann) |
| Little Ox | Sundown | 3.8% | Pale | This light and well balanced ale will help to quench the thirst with gentle zesty and floral notes and a hint of spice. | Charlbury Town Walking Football |
| Little Ox | Wipeout | 4.2% | Pale | A zesty pale ale generously flavoured with US West Coast hops. A riptide of hops with citrus and tropical notes carried on a wave of honeyed malts. | Northender |
| Loch Ness | Saazi Ness | 4.5% | Lager | A crisp, clean lager with Saaz & Bobek hops combining beautifully with clear Highland Water. | The Hulme Family |
| Loose Cannon | Fuse Pale Ale | 4.0% | Pale | Brewed with Magnum, Olicana and Jester hops, this pale gold beer is bursting with tropical fruit flavours of mango, grapefruit and passion fruit. | Original Marquees |
| Loose Cannon | Song Brew | 4.1% | Pale | An English Pale brewed using all English malts, oats and hops; light aroma of spicy fruit, with a light citrus flavour and a hint of sweetness and pepper. | Original Marquees |
| Luda | Stingray | 5.2% | Pale | Fruity notes from Citra and Mosaic hops with the subtle spice of rye malt, which adds a unique depth and balanced bitterness. | Sonnox |
| Mad Squirrel | London Porter | 5.0% | Porter | Within its shadowy depths are lurking complex notes of coffee, chocolate and smoke. So we are told. | JAG Timber |
| Magic Dragon | Green One | 4.2% | Gold | Golden brown and packed full of citrus hop flavours in the aroma, sharp taste, and peppery hops in the finish. | Habitat Energy |
| Marble | Manchester Bitter | 4.2% | Amber | Malty best bitter with a crisp hoppy bitterness, inspired by Manchester bitters of the past. | Northender |
| Moor | Illumination | 4.3% | Pale | Fruity aroma, overarching bitter flavour with pale malt, yeasty esters, tropical fruit, hints of spice and butterscotch all evident. | Howden |
| Nene Valley | Simple Pleasures | 3.6% | Pale | A light, clean and refreshing beer brewed with lager malt and packed full of Cascade and Ekuanot hops. | Finders Keepers |
| Oakham | Inferno | 4.0% | Pale | A light golden beer with a big personality, bursting with fruity hop flavours, citrus notes and a refreshing finish. | The Rose & Crown |
| Orkney | Northern Light | 4.0% | Pale | Citrus flavours combine with hints of fresh bread: giving way to spice, citrus and apricot hoppiness. | Remembering Jan Holah |
| Purple Moose | Elderflower | 4.0% | Pale | Last year's quickest seller is back: a refreshing pale ale with a hint of elderflower. | Community Relations Matters |
| Round Corner | Market Pale | 4.2% | Pale | From the home of the Pork Pie, a new beer from an inventive and innovative brewery. | Ashley Jones |
| Rudgate | Summer Supping | 3.6% | Pale | New beer for June from Rudgate; a session pale ale. | Rosemary Harris remembering Andy Tacon |
| Settle | Jericho Blonde | 3.6% | Pale | Light and refreshing, brewed with Cascade hops, floral aroma with a crisp, clean finish. | GBS Architects |
| Spey Valley | David's Not so Bitter | 4.4% | Amber | Dark amber beer - well-balanced caramel and biscuit flavours; hops and red fruits. | Charlbury Morris |
| Strangers | Lone Goose | 4.0% | Gold | Named after the single white goose who lives on Linlithgow Loch; dry-hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe and Bramling Cross (the beer, not the goose). | Original Marquees |
| Swannay | Seafire | 4.0% | Pale | It's travelled a long way to get here - expect American hop flavours. | GBS Architects |
| Tap Social | Cell Count | 4.5% | Gold | Balancing floral and fruity aromas with piney, slightly resinous flavours from the American hops. | Charlbury Town Walking Football |
| Theakston | Hairy Bikers | 4.2% | Pale | Happily an independent brewery again, a triple hop recipe devised with the help of Si King and the late Dave Myers. | Banbury Hill Farm |
| Thornbridge | AM/PM | 4.5% | Gold | Session IPA, tropical fruit aromas, pineapple, tangerine, guava and passion fruit balanced with a chewy malt character. | GBS Architects |
| Three Kings | Shield Maiden | 3.9% | Gold | Light golden ale from pilsner malts. Hopped with USA Centennial & Chinook Hops. | Charlbury Garage |
| Titanic | Cappuccino Stout | 4.5% | Stout | A must for coffee afficionados - smooth, roasted stout with strong notes of coffee throughout, and a lingering sweet finish. | SkillsYouNeed.com |
| Treen | Krowsek | 4.8% | Amber | Full bodied, Spicy hop and soft fruits on the nose over malt flavours of biscuit and caramel ending in a refreshing bitterness. | Chipping Norton Storage Ltd |
| Twisted Tree | Mangrove Madness | 5.2% | Gold | Tropical freshness of mango, passion fruit, and citrus, enhanced by mild bitterness. This smooth, crisp brew is ideal for sunshine! | House & Carriage |
| Twisted Tree | Treehouse Pale | 4.0% | Pale | Bright and refreshing pale ale, infused with Citra, Amarillo, and Chinook hops; juicy tropical fruit aromas, balanced by a crisp, dry finish. | The Glasgow Family |
| Vocation | Pride & Joy | 4.8% | Pale | Pale, crisp, very hoppy and aromatic. Robust hop flavours are layered over a balanced malty backbone. Mango, citrus, earthy pine, tropical fruit & blueberry. | 30 and far from mild |
| Warwickshire | SPA | 3.8% | Pale | Session pale ale, tasty and refreshing. | |
| Wensleydale | High Voltage | 4.9% | Pale | Hopped with two of the newest NZ hops - Nectaron and Superdelic - dangerously delicious, so handle it with care. | GBS Architects |
| Wickham House | Electric Lightning | 3.8% | Pale | Packed with vibrant hop flavours. Easy-drinking, with notes of tropical fruits. | Charlbury Garage |
| Wild Craft | Wild Cyclone | 4.2% | Pale | This tropical storm is a hazy, juicy, full of flavour but sessionable IPA with a soft finish and smooth bitterness. | Finders Keepers |
Craft Beer
Kindly sponsored by Banbury Hill Farm | The Old Shed | Cotswold View
| Brewery | Beer | ABV | Style | Tasting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bristol Beer Factory | Black Gates | 4.1% | Stout | True-to-style stout, expect creamy, smooth balance. |
| Bullhouse | Small Axe | 4.3% | Session IPA | Juicy and crisp in equal measure. Naked oats and wheat provide good body and a soft mouthfeel, letting the Mosaic and Chinook shine. |
| Burning Sky | Quench | 5.2% | NZ Pale Ale | Sumptuous malts, apparent but easy going bitterness. White grape, gooseberry and passionfruit to the fore. |
| Castle Rock | DDH Pale | 5.0% | DDH Pale | Juicy and soft pale with masses of Citra dry hop. Intense, zesty aroma with grapefruit and tropical fruit flavours in abundance. |
| Church Hanbrewery | Witty Bea | 5.0% | Pale Wheat | Belgian beer style with added notes of mandarin and garden herbs. Tangy, aromatic and flavourful. |
| Church Hanbrewery | My Sour | 4.8% | Sour | Pale / amber colour, sour but not too sour with gentle notes of gooseberry. Very quaffable |
| Delirium | Red | 8.0% | Cherry | Deep dark red colour, with a light pink, compact and lacing head. Soft fruit aroma with hints of almond and midly sour cherries. |
| Fierce | Fancy Juice | 5.0% | Hazy IPA | Hazy IPA with a bold mango and peach aroma and packed with ripe tropical and stonefruit flavours. |
| Five Points | XPA | 4.0% | Extra Pale Ale | A light and tropical extra pale ale with assertive hop bitterness and aromas of mango and passionfruit. |
| Floc | Warm Shade | 4.0% | Golden | A hazy, super sessionable Pale Ale packed with Idaho 7, Simcoe, and Citra. Juicy hops with a soft mouthfeel, and balanced bitterness. |
| Garage | Soup IPA | 6.0% | NEIPA | A big, juicy IPA from Spain's hottest new brewery. Loaded up with hops to give you a burst of juicy, tropical fruit. |
| Hawkstone | Premium Lager | 4.8% | Lager | Bold, yet balanced, with a smooth body and top notes of light citrus complemented by a subtle, crisp bitterness and malty backbone. |
| Hawkstone | Bounder | 4.2% | Helles Lager | Light and bouncy as a March hare. It’s got an irresistibly sweet malt flavour and a bready finish that tastes like freshly baked rolls. |
| Lervig + Alesmith | Kveik Culture | 6.5% | West Coast IPA | Notes of citrus, orange rind, pine, and tropical fruit, all balanced with a firm bitterness. |
| Little Ox | Weizen Easy | 4.5% | Weizenbier | A classic German wheat beer. Mandarin and citrus notes on top of subtle yeast flavours of clove and banana. |
| Little Ox | Killer Queen | 4.9% | NEIPA | Fruity and flamboyant. Diverse flavours of tropical fruits on a soft, hazy body. Unapologetically hoppy and individual. |
| Mad Squirrel | Big Sea | 5.5% | West Coast IPA | Big citrus, big pine and big bitterness come in waves throughout this brew, courtesy of some BIG ‘C’ Hops |
| Only With Love | Hoopla | 4.0% | Session Hazy | Blends the best of Citra and Motueka for a juicy hit of mango and lime, and a plush, silky splash of tropical fruit goodness. |
| Paulaner | Ur-Dunkel | 5.0% | Dark Lager | One of the world's best dark lagers, Paulaner Dunkel is rich with toast and raisin flavours. |
| Rothaus | Radler | 2.1% | Lime Shandy | Lemon and lime are recognizable, but by no means overpowering, promising a refreshing drinking experience. |
| Salopian | Lemon Dream Unfiltered | 4.5% | Golden | Brewed with organic lemons and a trio of hops including an additional Citra dry-hopping |
| Tap Social | Bandaid | 5.0% | Red IPA | Hopped with Citra, Amarillo, and Nectaron varietals that combine for a lovely bouquet of pine, biscuit, and dried citrus fruit flavours |
| Tap Social | Day Release | 0.5% | Pale | This one is a balanced, easy-drinking pale lightly hopped with Sultana. Expect bright citrus notes and a clean finish. |
Cider & Perries
Kindly sponsored by Charlbury Garage
In 2025 we welcomed back Hitchcox Cider with four sparkling ciders, alongside a selection of bag-in-box still ciders and perries.
| Producer | Cider | ABV | Style | Tasting Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitchcox Cider | Medium | 5.6% | Medium | Oak-matured vintage medium cider |
| Hitchcox Cider | Dry | 6.2% | Dry | Made from a rolling blend of sharp and bittersweet cider apples |
| Hitchcox Cider | Old Rusty | 4.0% | Medium Sweet | Cider apples with a bold medley of blackberries, elderberries, and plums. |
| Hitchcox Cider | Single Variety Dabientt | 6.7% | Medium | A rounded, bittersweet cider with depth, warmth, and gentle tannins |
| Celtic Marches | Lily the Pink | 4.5% | Medium | An intense fruity nose and is gently sweet on the palate. |
| Farmer Jim | Sweet | 5.0% | Sweet | A light aromatic cider, smooth on the palette, fruity on the nose! |
| Gwynt Y Ddraig | Pyder | 6.0% | Medium | Mix of apples and pears expertly blended. |
| Sandford Orchards | Hangy Downs | 5.5% | Medium Sweet | Delicious baked apple and butterscotch flavours. |
| Sting Cider | Tipsy Marian | 6.9% | Dry | Strong dry cider. |
| Snails Bank | Rhubarb | 4.0% | Fruit | Infused with tart Rhubarb and blended with vanilla. |
| Snails Bank | Very Perry | 5.0% | Medium | Fruity medium perry made from Stinking Bishop Perry pears. |
Wine & Gin
Kindly sponsored by Finders Keepers
We offered two white wines: Haut Poitou from France, and The Doctors Riesling from New Zealand. There was Definition Cotes de Provence, a rosé from France, and Lisboa Red for red wine lovers. Finally, The Guv'nor Sparkling for those who fancied some bubbles!
Gin lovers enjoyed a G&T with classic Gordon's or Hendrick's, plus a Caribbean Rum Punch.
Pimm's
Kindly sponsored by Cornbury House Horse Trials
The ever-popular Pimm's stand served up refreshing Pimm's cups with all the trimmings — always a crowd favourite on a warm summer afternoon.